[Copied & Pasted from "Reccomendations for a decent boiler etc]

Pls excuse the slight tangent but I want to replace our existing boiler
before winter. Ideally I would love to install a softener too but I have
always worried that the softener would restrict the flow/pressure.

We have quite low mains pressure in Cambridge, typically 2.5 bar, this
correspondingly delivers only about 20L/min at ground floor on cold
mains but a disappointing 10L/min in our second floor bathroom.

Clearly, Don, you are very happy with your shower now but I wonder if
you think your water supply and situation means that the softener could
be accommodated better in your supply than it would work for us?

What kind/make did you use - I have noticed some are limited to 1.75 bar?

Any tips/info gratefully received.

best wishes

Nick

Hi Nick, Sorry about the delay in answering your query, however here goes.
I purchased the water softener from EMWC in March this year, a Permutit
model, although most of them seem to be made by Culligan these days but
I had the permutit branded one for historical reasons I suppose. Here's
the link to the one I purchased.
http://www.eastmidlandswater.com/Det...ProductID=1064

It was installed and commissioned in May and has been on stream since
then and given satisfactory results. There are only 2 of us in our house
so the demand on it is quite small, however, we have used approx a bag
and a half of salt to date ( we buy localy at £10 a 25Kg bag). Our
incoming water is approx 230ppm of hardness and it reduces it to less
than 14ppm after regeneration, there is a mixing facility valve built
in to the unit which allows you to mix the incoming hard water with the
softened water to allow you to choose a not so highly softened water if
you require. We have not chosen to do so.The water pressure is
controlled to 3.8 Bar by a regulator which I installed at the same time.
(They recomend the water pressure to be between 1.7 and 5 Bar for this
particular model).
If I had more than 2 people drawing on it, I feel that I would require
a larger model.

It regenerates automaticaly at night at 2 AM, in our case I think
about twice a week but it's difficult to catch it "at it" so to speak so
I'm guessing a little here based on the level of the salt tablets in the
casing the next morning. The unit came with 15mm flex pipes but we
purchased 22mm flex pipes to minimise pressure drop (manufacturers'
reccommendation), however the pressure drops to 2.8 Bar when the shower
is on. (All pressures measured on the inlet side just after the pressure
regulator) the resistance to flow is therefore before the pressure
regulator which comprises the following: Water meter, stop valve,
10Meters of pipe to main in road and external stop tap in the pavement.
That sounds a bit garbled but I hope you get the jist.

I haven't measured the pressure drop across the unit but the spec says "
for flow rate of 24 L/Min pressure drop =1Bar"

We fill the salt container approx once a week and it's very easy do do so.

Hope this Helps
Come back to me if you stillhave a query, Ill do my best to find out but
you may be able to get more detailed info from the maker/supplier.
Best Regards

Don